Quick Reference: Where to Report Power Outages

Anderson Observer

As a major winter storm approaches, which is forecast to include snow/ice accumulations and high winds, here are the phone numbers to report outages:

Duke Power 1-800-POWERON (800-769-3766)

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative...

Call Outage Express to report outages at 1-888-BLUERIDGE (258-3743)

Little River Electric Cooperative...

864-366-2141 (Abbeville)

864-391-3480 (McCormick)

800-459-2141 (Anderson)

Do not call 911 to report power outages.

Emergency Management Director Dedicated His Life to Service

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

New Anderson County Emergency Management Director Joshua Hawkins has spent more than half of his life in fire fighting, law enforcement, and the past couple of years in emergency management.

He continues to serve the county as a volunteer fire fighter and is a tireless worker in helping the county prepare for disaster situations, as he talked about in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

City Makes Thompson Mayor Pro Tempore

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson City Council has chosen Councilwoman Beatrice Thompson as Mayor Pro Tempore to replace former Councilman Don Chapman who stepped down in December to run for the South Carolina House District 8 seat.

Council also approved the use of $14,507,668 funds, received as part of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds of the America Rescue Plan, for infrastructure upgrades, broadband expansion and premium pay for employees at Monday's meeting.

The city will also move ahead on a shared commercial kitchen at 110 N. Murray Ave for food entreprenuers, which will be paid for with a $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and the other roughly $500,000 from city’s general fund.

Annual Grace Soup Lunch Benefit Set for Jan. 20

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

It's one of Anderson's tastiest winter traditions. Grace Episcopal Church will hold it’s annual soup luncheon Jan. 20 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the church located at 711 S. Main Street, with all proceeds going to the Anderson Emergency Soup Kitchen. 

The meal features home-made soup, cornbread, dessert and tea all for $7. Eat in or take out. Call ahead orders are also welcome at 225-8011.

Mayor's Annual MLK Event to Be Virtual Again this Year

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Due to health safety concerns of the pandemic, Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts’ annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Breakfast will be a virtual event this year, streamed live beginning at 9 a.m. at YouTube.com/CityofAndersonSC.

The theme of the event is: “The Dream of a Beloved Community.” King defined a beloved community as one in which everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger, and hate. 

The keynote speaker is attorney/commentator Bakari Sellers, who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for the 90th District from 2006-2014. Born and raised in Denmark, South Carolina, he earned a bachelor's degree in African-American Studies from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.  Sellers has worked for Congressman James Clyburn and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. He earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law and has been with Strom Law Firm since 2007. He is married to Dr. Ellen Rucker-Sellers and they have three children.

“Dr. King believed it should be our goal is to create a beloved community,” said Roberts. “He emphasized that this will require a ‘qualitative change in our souls’ as well as ‘a quantitative change in our lives.’ This year we honor this part of his Dream for all of us."

The event will also include an address by Roberts and the presentation of the Trailblazer Award. 

“Though, like last year, the event will be held virtually,” Roberts said, “We look forward to it being just as special as live events in the past as the virtual event has the potential to touch people beyond our community.” 

COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in Anderson County, with more than 2,500 cases in the past seven days. More than 100 are currently hospitalized at AnMed Health due to the virus.

McMaster Proposes New Plan for Funding Public Schools

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s governor is proposing a simplification of the formula the state uses to pay its portion for public schools.

The new formula Gov. Henry McMaster will put into his budget plan submitted to lawmakers later this month will increase flexibility and accountability and help out poorer districts, his education staff said.

The proposal sends money based on student-teacher ratio and minimum teacher salaries instead of the confusing arrays of formulas currently used.

McMaster's budget adds $120 million to the $3.4 billion being sent to local school districts to assure that 72 of the 79 districts will get more state money next school year. The remaining seven districts should remain at the same level, the governor's office said.

The formula sends money to schools based on a ratio of 11.7 students to every teacher. It then pays districts $66,524 per teacher needed, which is the median pay for South Carolina teachers. It also increases funding for certain groups, like children in special education programs.

The biggest change is raising the amount of extra money given to districts for students in poverty by two-and-a-half times per child, according to the governor's plan.

Districts can increase the student-to-teacher ratio and have wide latitude on how to spend the money, whether it be on administrators, special programs or better teacher salaries.

What the governor wants in exchange is accountability and his budget proposal would require audits by state-approved auditors, budgets published on school districts websites and searchable expenditures with a goal to try to figure out why some districts are better preparing students for college or getting students proficient in reading quicker.

The governor's staff said they want to be flexible with the new formula and work with lawmakers when they return Tuesday for the 2022 session.

The governor's office said his plan is a first step he hopes will eventually get to a total overhaul of school funding.

City to Look at Use of Relief Funds, Bids on Shared Kitchen Incubator

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson City Council will consider how to use the $14,507,668 funds received as part of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds of the America Rescue Plan. Infrastructure upgrades, broadband and premium pay for employees are the top projects under consideration.

Council will also vote on a bids for a shared commercial kitchen at 110 N. Murray Ave. A $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will pay for part of the project. The remaining balance of the project will be funded using the city’s general fund.

Full agenda here.

Boil Water Advisory Issued for Parts of City of Anderson

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

UPDATE: Water main repaired, boil water advisory is not longer in effect.

The City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities has issued a limited precautionary boil water advisory due to a water main break in the area of North Main Street near Wendy’s.

Streets effected are: Tanglewood Dr., Eskew Circle, Forest Hill Dr., Barnard E Bee St., Beauregard Ave., Bedford Forest Ave., Jeb Stewart Ave., Joe Wheeler Dr., Belvedere Shopping Center, Anderson Mall, E. North Ave. from Jeb Stewart to Main St. and Main St from E. North Ave to Forrest Hill Dr.

This advisory is for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice as precautionary measure.

Crews are on the scene working to repair the break and restore service as soon as possible.

Anderson Legislative Delegation Outlines Priorities for 2022

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Anderson County Legislative Delegation discussed their priorties in the S.C. General Assembly for 2022 at the annual Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce event Thursday at Tucker's in Anderson.

AnMed Reports Surge in COVID Cases, Expands Testing Hours

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer 

AnMed Health is working to provide exceptional care to patients despite the rise in inpatient COVID cases. While the full impact of the recent holiday season is undetermined, there was a 45-person increase in hospitalized COVID patients from December 29-January 4.

A high number of those patients in are in the Emergency Department and urgent care centers. AnMed is asking for patience when visiting these locations because of the possibility of longer than usual wait times. For non-emergencies, patients can connect with us for an E-visit by visiting AnMedHealth.org/E-Visits. 

With the surge in COVID cases, AnMed Health has expanded its COVID drive-through testing hours. The new hours are Monday-Thursday from 8-11 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8-11 a.m. A physician's order is needed to receive a COVID test at the drive-through location at the Oglesby Center, 2000 East Greenville Street, Anderson. 

The public in encouraged to stay vigilant by getting vaccinated to reduce the risk of severe illness and needing emergency care. Other prevention efforts include not visiting patients in the hospital if you are sick, wearing a mask, hand washing and social distancing. 

Sheriff's Office Sergeant to Run for County Probate Judge

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

JT Foster, a sargeant in the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, has announced his intentions to run for the Anderson County Probate Judge seat in the June 14 primary.

After more than a decade of service with the Sheriff’s Office, Foster said his experience make him an ideal candidate for the position.
 
“Since 2006, I have dedicated my career to serving the citizens of Anderson County," Foster said. "After holding several positions in the County Sheriff’s Office, I know I’ll be ready for any challenge thrown my way as probate judge. As a family man and follower of Christ, I know the importance of treating everyone fairly and listening to all sides before rendering any decision. I want to be a judge who puts the well-being of families first.”

A lifelong resident of Belton, Foster began at the Sheriff’s Office in 2006 as a Deputy Sheriff with the Uniform Patrol Division and is now a Staff Sergeant who serves as the Public Information Officer for the agency.

 “A probate judge serves county residents during some of the most stressful times they will ever go through; this position requires someone who understands the impact that each decision will make. Anderson needs someone who is compassionate and highly organized,” Foster said, in a press release announcing his candidacy, adding that he will work closely with other local agencies and law enforcement officials and oversee a probate court that is responsive, efficient, transparent, and genuinely cares about the people it serves."

Foster earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Anderson University and holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Tri-County Technical College in 2011, and a master’s degree from the Command College of South Carolina at Anderson University.
 
Foster married his wife Noel in 2006 and the couple has three girls – Cloie, Carsen, and Caroline.

County Gives Initial Ok to Redistricting; Re-elects Leadership

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council approved on Tuesday, the first reading of the redistricting map for county council seats based on United States Census 2020 results. 

The redistricting covers all seven county council districts and effects 14,805 citizens, roughly 7.3 percent of the county’s population. 

A series of public meetings will be help in the weeks ahead before the map receives final approval.

Full story and map here. 

Also on Tuesday night, Anderson County Council leadership will remain unchanged for 2022, as Chairman Tommy Dunn and Vice Chairman Brett Sanders were unanimously re-elected to remain in their current roles. 

Dunn has served as chairman since 2014 and Sanders began his service as vice chairman in 2020.

Sheriff's Dept. Virtual, In-House Training Tops in State

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Anderson County Sheriff's Department for a virtual new training setup aimed at better preparing officers for intense situations.

The $200,000 VirTra V-300 Law Enforcement Simulator is has been in place almost four months to help officers prepare to make proper decisions when deadly force is authorized under current laws. The system, which offers virtual training on five situations - Active Threat/Active Killer, Dog Encounters, De-Escalation, Stop Time Drill and Practice and Prepare Drills - officers might face calling for instant decisions. 

Special Operations Capt. Wanye Mills said that coupled with the hands-on, in-house training facility run by the department, law enforcement officers can take to the streets with a comprehensive knowledge of how to respond quickly to difficult situations.

Mills said using state-of-the-art technology and the physical training facility, the Anderson County Sheriff's Department is preparing law enforcement officers for almost every situation they will face on duty, using controlled environments and scenarios. The training also helps potential recruits determine if the actual day-to-day fast-decision making career is right for them before hiring.